Kennedy sets out three tests for Britain's Presidency of European Union

3.52.01pm GMT Wed 6th Jul 2005

Charles Kennedy has set out three tests for British Presidency of the EU. He was speaking in a debate organized by political think-tank the Centre for Reform at the London School of Economics, entitled 'Europe: where do we go from here?' Other participants included Joschka Fisher, Robin Cook, Douglas Hurd and Peter Sutherland.

Charles Kennedy said "The first is progress on the Budget Deal - requiring the UK to spell out exactly how it envisages CAP reform. The second is maintaining the momentum for enlargement - it would be a historic disaster if the EU was to turn inward, not outward, to promote stability and prosperity. Finally, there is the issue of economic reform: Britain should not lecture the rest of Europe but the EU should recognise that the single market only applies to 20% of the EU economy and that liberalisation and competition, including in services, represent and acid test for Europe's future prosperity."